Report from Cersaie: Exhibitors Display Edgy, Elegant Bath Products

Italian tile show unveils contemporary designs and innovative technologies for the bath.

Cersaie is known for the innovative and cutting-edge ceramic tiles it offers, but this yearly event in Bologna, Italy, also is a great place to scope out some of the coolest bath offerings you'll find anywhere.

Unlike the United States, which has separate shows for bath products, tile, and surfaces, Italy, Spain, and Brazil hold their bath product shows in conjunction with their tile show—perhaps because the two categories go so well together. Plus, it’s a great place to see how tiles could complement (or clash with) your bath product selections.

This year, Cersaie hosted a lot of familiar names in the bath products world, such as German manufacturers Hansgrohe, Dornbracht, Vola, and Hansa as well as the Turkish powerhouse VitrA. American household name Jacuzzi made an appearance at the show, as did Italian favorite Gessi.

What’s interesting about this show, as well as many shows outside of the States, is that the designs are always a little edgier, slightly more unconventional, and ever so slightly quirky. It’s partly the reason this year's tile show, the 28th, received more than 83,000 attendees who came to handle the wares and see what’s in store for consumers in the coming years.

Here is a sampling of some of the elegant bath products that were on display at the show.